PETpla.net Insider 12 / 2020

BOTTLING / FILLING PETplanet Insider Vol. 21 No. 12/20 www.petpla.net 31 followed in 2018 by a plant in Moers as part of a joint venture with Dr Oetker. Two PET lines from Krones are now in operation at each location. In addition, the Bissingen plant also got two new lines, in 2018 and 2019. Both lines once again feature a PET-Asept D system from Krones, each with a rated capacity of 18,000/h 1.0 l containers. This aseptic filler-capper block processes milk, dairy drinks, and whipping cream and also coffee beverages, NFC juices, smoothies, and water. The latest filler gen- eration gives Gropper the utmost flexibility in container choice. On earlier models, changing bottle shape meant replacing handling parts. Today, all container types can be processed with a single set of handling parts. Because the clean room no longer has to be opened, cleaning times are shorter – and the line’s per- formance has increased by around 25% compared with earlier models. With the PET-Asept D, Gropper has chosen to keep the filler and the blow-moulder separate. One reason is to clearly segregate packaging material storage from the hygienic space around the filler. Preforms and packaging materials are fed into the lines from a central location at the front end of the bottling hall – and for that reason, the Contifeed pre- form feed system, the Contiform 3 Pro stretch blow-moulders, and the packer are all sited in this part of the hall. The filler stands at the opposite end of the hall. An AirCo air conveyor transfers the moulded PET contain- ers along the 60m (nearly 200-foot) stretch between the two areas. “The air conveyor also serves as a buffer. Especially when working with higher- viscosity products, we can run slow filling without impacting the thermal- process in the blow moulder,” explains Burgmeier. Klein chuckles, adding, “At Gropper, we’re obsessed with buffers because our experience has been that Each of the two Solomodul modular labellers has two docking stations for wrap- around, pre-cut, and lid labelling stations. The set-up can also accommodate integration of two Autocol labelling stations for self- adhesive labels if needed.